Letters

I think I have solved the current name-changing trend with no impact on ratepayers or map-makers.

It's simple. Politicians can in future change their names - as actors do in Hollywood - as in reality, they are all actors in our big South African production. Politician X changes his/her name (from an available street or building list) to, say, Mr Adderley.

This has two great benefits.

First, with all politicians changing names perhaps Home Affairs will become more streamlined, and secondly, as we all have such short memories Mr Adderley's good or bad deeds will be remembered by the current generation in relation to Adderley Street. A brave or determined politician can take on a really "offensive" name and in doing so obliterate any negative connotations the name conjures up through his actions.

History will become more fluid and vibrant.

Local citizens and international visitors will still know where they are or where they are going (well - maybe not politically).

This way we do not have to have big press announcements calling for suggestions, nor expensive committees to decide and ponder all suggested names. And new streets, towns and buildings can still be named after heroes or famous persons. A win-win situation for everyone.

On a different tangent, perhaps I am politically shallow, but when I turn left into Coen Steytler Street, I am watching the traffic and making sure I am in the right place - there is no vision or memories flooding in of a Mr Coen Steytler and what he did or didn't do, just traffic.

And a second tangent: most of the time OR Tambo International Airport is mentioned in the news, it is with a negative connotation. Baggage theft, flight delays, fuel spills - so a great man's memory or honouring, when not chosen carefully, can be blighted.

Mike Dallas
Plumstead

As the name-changing debate rages on, let me add my two cents' worth. I believe that no roads or areas should be named after politicians as it is too risky. Too risky, because all too often politicians fall from grace, having been found to be morally bankrupt.

Imagine if the arms deal scandal had not broken now, but much later? How many Modise, Yengeni, Zuma and Mac Maharaj streets would have to be renamed?

I implore those in charge to please rename the offensive streets, but please rename them after events in our history or after innocuous flora or fauna, otherwise we are going to have to have this boring and expensive debate every decade.

Anton de Waal
Claremont

With acknowledgement to Mike Dallas, Anton de Waal and Cape Argus.